title: First Observations of Laser-Excited Hg3 and Hg2RG Spectra in a Supersonic Expansion Beam
abstract: Triatomic van der Waals complexes of mercury have been observed in a supersonic expansion beam crossed with a laser beam to produce excitation and fluorescence spectra. The expansion beam consisting of mercury and a (noble) carrier gas (RG) was excited in three separate spectral regions: in the vicinity of the Hg 2537 A intercombination line, near the (forbidden) Hg 6(3)P2 <-- 6(1)S0 atomic transition (2200-2290 A), and in the region of the Hg2 G0(+)u <-- X0(+)g transition (1975-2080 A). The resulting spectra, which were recorded in the spectral range 1900-6000 A, contained, in addition to the known Hg, Hg2, and HgRG components, new absorption and fluorescence bands that are ascribed to Hg2RG and Hg3 complexes. Copyright 1998 Academic Press. Copyright 1998Academic Press
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, N9B 3P4, Canada
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Koperski
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Atkinson
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Krause